Saturday, August 25, 2007

Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, a satellite city of Raleigh. The population was 20,212 at the 2000 census and is at an estimated 31,453 in 2007. The town motto is "The Peak of Good Living." Geography The town of Apex was incorporated in 1873, named for its location as the highest point on the Chatham Railroad between Richmond, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida. Apex grew slowly through the succeeding decades, despite several devastating fires, including a 1912 conflagration which destroyed most of the downtown business district. The town center was rebuilt and stands to this day, now one of the most intact railroad towns in the state. At the heart of town stands the Apex Union Depot, originally passenger station for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and later home to the locally-supported Apex Community Library. The depot now houses the Apex Chamber of Commerce Apex suffered mild setbacks during the Depression-era, but growth began again in earnest in the 1950s. The town's position in proximity to North Carolina's Research Triangle Park spurred additional residential development, yet the town managed to preserve its small-town character. Still, during the decade of the 1990s, the town's population quadrupled to over 20,000, placing unprecedented demands upon Apex's infrastructure. In October, 2006, a chemical fire in an Apex waste processing facility generated worldwide headlines when much of the town was temporarily evacuated History Apex's Council-Manager form of government comprises a mayor and five councilmen (one who serves as Mayor pro tem) who are elected at-large for four-year terms. A professional Town Manager and staff direct all Town departments.Keith Weatherly is the mayor of Apex, he was first elected to the post in 1995 after serving for 2 years on the council. He is currently serving his 3rd term. Mayor pro tem: Mike Jones (4th term) Councilmen: Town Manager: Bruce Radford Asst. Town Manager: Mike Wilson Town Clerk: Georgia Evangelist Director of Public Works: Tim DonnellyBryan Gossage (1st term)Bill Jensen (2nd term)Gene Schulze (2nd term)Bill Sutton (1st term) Government As of the census of 2000, there were 20,212 people, 7,397 households, and 5,584 families residing in the town. The population density was 740.4/km² (1,918.2/mi²). There were 8,028 housing units at an average density of 294.1/km² (761.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.06% White, 7.55% African American, 0.29% Native American, 4.27% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.21% of the population. There were 7,397 households out of which 46.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.16. In the town the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 44.8% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males. The median income for a household in the town was $71,052, and the median income for a family was $78,689. Males had a median income of $55,587 versus $37,057 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,727. About 1.2% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over. DemographicsAV Baucom ElementaryOlive Chapel ElementarySalem Elementary SchoolSalem Middle SchoolApex Elementary SchoolApex Middle SchoolApex High SchoolMiddle Creek High SchoolSt.Mary Magdalene Church SchoolTurner Creek Elementary School Schools This is a listing of Apex Neighborhoods with external links:AmherstBeckett CrossingCameron ParkCastlewoodCharleston VillageCrockett's RidgeHollands CrossingHaddon Hall (Haddon Hall Wikipedia article)Homestead ParkScotts MillShepherd's VineyardWaterford GreenWhitehall ManorVillage at Crockett's Ridge Neighborhoods